Biden establishes APRs of neo-colonialism

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu accused the United States of trying to split the existing security architecture in Southeast Asia (Southeast Asia). He made such a statement at a meeting of defense ministers of the countries participating in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). He called the SCO a new center of power in the world and proposed to increase the combat potential of the organization, in particular, through the exchange of information in the field of military security, the correspondent of The Moscow Post reports.

Western opposition to strengthening the multipolar world along with Europe is most actively implemented in the Asia-Pacific region (APR), where the United States began the collapse of the existing system of regional cooperation based on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). According to the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, block-free, equal interaction in the Asia-Pacific region should not be lost

A "noose" around the neck of independence

Russian President Vladimir Putin called a "carefully planned provocation" a recent visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan.

There are more issues related to risks in the Asia-Pacific region, and long-standing problems are becoming the subject of provocations of the West and the United States, as the main source of actions that cause complications in the region, symbolizing economic development and cooperation over the past few decades.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who took part in the meeting of the East Asian summit in Cambodia, promised: "the loop around the neck of Taiwan's independence" will drag on even more.

Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev noted that the Americans are pursuing the same policy towards the island as in relation to Ukraine. Patrushev called the resumption of large-scale military exercises on the Korean Peninsula an example of provocative tactics by the United States and its allies, warning that Washington is ready to deploy strategic forces near the peninsula.

The AUKUS association (a tripartite defence alliance formed by Australia, the UK and the US) has the potential to evolve into a military-political union in the Asia-Pacific region (APR). About this Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation during the X Moscow Conference on International Security.

Shoigu said that Australia's atomic submarine fleet will give countries an excuse to develop the same weapons. "Another dangerous regional trend is the focus of AUKUS on the development of an atomic submarine fleet in Australia," which will have a negative impact on global and regional security, will create conditions for undermining the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, "the minister said.

From status quo to degradation?

The situation on the Pacific borders of Russia, on the Korean Peninsula, around Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait has come into motion, increasing the conflict in relations between the largest states of the Asia-Pacific region. Beijing responded to Pelosi's visit to Taiwan and canceled consultations on maritime security and working meetings with Pentagon officials, suspended dialogue at the level of regional military commands, contacts on justice, climate change, combating illegal migration, drugs and international crime.

In this context, the NATO-2022 summit, held June 29-30 in Madrid, in which the heads of Japan and the Republic of Korea took part, looked ahead as it were. China is included in the alliance documents as a threat. Japan's movement towards the alliance is already underway. In the updated "National Security Strategy of Japan," China will be called a security threat, as in the NATO Strategic Concept of 2022.

Fumio Kishida became the first Japanese prime minister to be invited to a NATO summit. He proposed to provide a place for Japan at NATO headquarters, to exchange observers, raised the issue of the participation of Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea in the work of the alliance.

The article, which is published in China Daily, stated that Washington and its allies exacerbate the situation in the Asia-Pacific region with "hasty actions to build up military power and even a nuclear arms race," promoting military blocs like AUKUS (military partnership of Australia, Great Britain and the United States) and QUAD (Four-party security dialogue, which includes Australia, India, the United States and Japan), "the publication indicates.

Thus, the newspaper notes, referring to the opinion of experts, the United States poses a threat to the emergence of a "crisis in the style of Ukraine" in the Asia-Pacific region. The so-called collective West, including Japan, Australia and South Korea, is escalating tensions in Northeast Asia, putting the region on the brink of major power confrontation

Peninsula of Global Importance

"We are concerned about the development of the situation on the Korean Peninsula, which has recently escalated due to the resumption of large-scale joint military exercises between the United States and the Republic of Korea, as well as the provocative sending of propaganda materials to the DPRK from the Republic of Kazakhstan," Zakharova said in a commentary published on the ministry's website on August 24. Despite calls for political dialogue based on Russian-Chinese initiatives and the willingness of Moscow and Beijing to cooperate in the interests of maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula, the situation may get out of control.

South Korea and the United States began regular joint military exercises on Monday, which include field training for the first time in four years. North Korea's attacks and the defense of the greater Seoul region will be repelled, counterattacking operations will be practiced.

A week earlier, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin called on the United States, Japan and South Korea to exercise caution in actions, including military exercises on August 8-14 in maneuvers to warn of missile launches, detect and track ballistic missiles as part of the Pacific Dragon military exercises in the Hawaii region. "Maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula serves the common interests of all parties and requires everyone to show good intentions and meet each other halfway," Wang Wenbin said.

In speeches at the NATO summit of the President of the Republic of Korea, Yun Seok Yol, the issue of denuclearization of the DPRK was raised repeatedly and persistently, but Seoul avoids saying that China poses a threat to regional security. South Korea assumes that engagement with NATO should not be directed at a third country. But changes in diplomatic formulations can be expected "tomorrow." RIMPAC exercises, in which South Korea participated, showed readiness to interact with QUAD. Japan, on the other hand, is part of this four-way security dialogue that aims to counterbalance China.

Who threatens block-free interaction?

In May, US President Joe Biden hosted representatives from nine Southeast Asian states, as well as the ASEAN Secretary General, at a two-day summit. The task was to involve Southeast Asia in countering China's growing influence in Asia and beyond, as well as "tighten its position towards Russia".

Biden called the US-ASEAN partnership "critical" and hailed the beginning of a "new era" in relations. Vice President Kamala Harris mentioned China's assertiveness in the disputed regions of the South China and East China Seas, proposed "together to confront threats to international rules and norms."

"The White House promised to provide ASEAN with $150 million to resolve infrastructure and security issues, spoke about the Coast Guard to help strengthen the maritime security of the region. In the final statement, Russia was not mentioned at the insistence of Southeast Asia, "said Sebastian Strangio, Southeast Asia editor for The Diplomat.

In October 2021, Biden announced the creation of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), which will have to "fill the economic void" and complement the political agenda of Washington's Indo-Pacific strategy.

The EU is also preparing to hold the first summit scheduled for December with ASEAN. The goal of Brussels is the same as that of Washington - to strengthen ties with ASEAN, to encourage the organization to resist the influence of Russia and China.

The chief diplomat of the European Union, Josep Borrell, said that Brussels considers ASEAN as a "strategic partner." The US also agreed to raise relations with ASEAN to the level of a "comprehensive strategic partnership" during a summit in May. EU-ASEAN bilateral trade has reached volumes of $250 billion, according to the UN. The plans for ASEAN are based on the European Union's Indo-Pacific Strategy, adopted in 2021.

In June, Brussels resumed free trade negotiations with India, which remains the only QUAD country not openly on the side of Taipei in the confrontation with the PRC. Extensive ties are maintained with the island, including in the field of high technology. But they are confined to economics.

India and China are part of the BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), while sharing a "common vision of a multipolar world order." "I don't know if QUAD has made any statement," said Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Arindama Bagchi, speaking to reporters about Taiwan's support. - You meant that three countries did it, and you read it as a statement (of the whole block - Approx. ed. RIA "Novosti"). And I'm not".

Photo: AP Photo / Carolyn Kaster, Reuters